Method and system for securely providing content to a portable media player device

ABSTRACT

A method and system includes a central location  100  registering a portable device  36  with a central location  100  and generating a conditional access signal corresponding to the portable device  36  in response to registering and transmitting the conditional access signal to a storage device controller. A set top box or storage device controller  28  receives the conditional access signal and enables a transfer of a file. The portable device  36  receives the file when coupled to the set top box in response to the conditional access signal.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to Utility application Ser. No. (AttorneyDocket No. PD-206018) entitled “Method and System for Providing Contentto a Portable Media Player Device and Maintaining Licensing Rights”;Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. PD-206019) entitled “Method and System forEnabling Transfer of Content Between a Storage Device and a PortableMedia Player Device”; Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. PD-206020) entitled“Separation of Content Types on a Portable Media Player Device”; Ser.No. (Attorney Docket No. PD-206029) entitled “Method and System forUpdating File Segments of Content on a Portable Media Player Device”;and Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. PD-206030) entitled “Method and Systemfor Targeted Marketing to a Portable Media Player Device Owner”, filedsimultaneously herewith. The disclosures of the above applications areincorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure sets forth a method for storing information in aportable media player or other portable or mobile device from a contentstorage device and more specifically for a system and method ofperforming the same.

BACKGROUND

Satellite television has become increasingly popular due to its widevariety of programming. Current DirecTV systems employ an antenna thatis fixed to a structure. The antenna is pointed once and secured intoplace. Typically a set top box includes a digital video recorder forrecording various programs. To play the content on another televisionrequires the physical movement of the set top box to another television.This is inconvenient and, thus, is hardly ever performed.

Portable media players have increased in popularity over the years.Portable media players record content, typically from the internet, forplayback through the portable media device. An example of a portablemedia player includes an MP3 player. More recently, memory for suchdevices has increased while the cost of the memory has been reduced.Portable media players now are capable of storing and playing back videocontent recorded from the internet through a personal computer or thelike.

Content on a digital video recorder is already in a digital format and,thus, it would be convenient for users to be able to use the storedcontent on a portable media player. However, it is desirable to preventunauthorized use of the content stored on the portable or mobile mediadevice.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a method and apparatus forallowing satellite television video and audio files to be played back ona portable media player while protecting the rights of content owners.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure allows a portable media player to playback filesloaded from a storage device in a set top box (IRD). The storage devicemay be a digital video recorder (DVR).

In one aspect of the disclosure, a method includes storing a uniqueidentifier of a portable device in a memory associated with a storagedevice controller to form a stored identifier, coupling the portabledevice to the storage device controller, communicating an identifierfrom the portable device to the storage device controller, comparing theidentifier from the portable device with the stored identifier in thememory, and enabling a transfer of a file in response to the identifier.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method includes registering aportable device with a central location, generating a conditional accesssignal corresponding to the portable device in response to registering,communicating the conditional access signal to a storage devicecontroller, coupling the portable device to the storage devicecontroller, and communicating files to the portable device in responseto the conditional access signal.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a system includes a centrallocation registering a portable device with a central location andgenerating a conditional access signal corresponding to the portabledevice in response to registering and transmitting the conditionalaccess signal to a storage device controller. A set top box or storagedevice controller receives the conditional access signal and enables atransfer of a file. A portable device receives the file when coupled tothe set top box in response to the conditional access signal.

One advantage of the disclosure is that broadcasters' rights may bemaintained as well as providing security for the system.

Other advantages and features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attacheddrawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system level view of a satellite broadcasting systemaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagrammatic view of a receiving system according tothe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable media player.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable media player having a toplevel menu for selecting various content.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portable media player having a DIRECTVbrand menu displayed content.

FIG. 6 is a system level view of a system for authorizing a portabledevice to be used in the system.

FIG. 7 is a screen display from a set top box to allow content to beplayed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a system toallow a portable media player to save and playback satellite televisioncontent.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are a flowchart illustrating a method of operating asystem to loading files onto the portable device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of playing back filesstored on the portable media player.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operating a system totransfer and playback files with appropriate licensing rights.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of a file segment, a pluralityof which is used to form a file.

FIG. 13 is a table illustrating a potential storage scheme for videosegments.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for a method of updating a segment.

FIG. 15 is a high level flowchart for a method of updating a videosegment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for directing advertising to a system owner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following figures the same reference numerals will be used forthe same views. The following figures are described with respect to aportable media player for use with a satellite television system.However, those skilled in the art will recognize the teachings of thepresent disclosure may be applied to various types of devices anddifferent methods to communicate. The present disclosure may be used foraudio files, video files or both. The system is also suitable for usewith a storage device alone or in combination with a receiving devicefor a cable, terrestrial over-the-air system, satellite or stratosphericbroadcast system.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a television broadcasting system 10 isillustrated. The television broadcasting system 10 includes a networkoperations center 12 that generates wireless signals through atransmitting antenna 14 which are received by a receiving antenna 16 ofsatellites 18. The wireless signals, for example, may be digital, audio,digital video, or digital information signals. A transmitting antenna 20generates signals directed to various receiving systems includingstationary systems such as those in a home 22. The wireless signals mayhave various types of information associated with them includinglocation information. The wireless signals may also have various videoand audio information associated therewith. A receiving antenna 26receives the wireless signals from the satellite 18 and processes thesignals in a receiving unit or set top box 28. The set top box 28terminology will be used as an example throughout the disclosure but maybe used interchangeably with the receiving unit.

Towers 34A and 34B may be used by the system 10 to provide variousinformation or content signals to the set top box 28. The towers 34A,34B may be used for terrestrial television broadcasting. The towers 34A,34B may be cellular towers for broadcasting through a cellular system.

A stratospheric platform 35 may also be used in the system fordistributing content, by broadcasting in place of or in addition to thesatellite, towers or terrestrial system. The stratospheric platform 35may be manned or unmanned and fly between fifty thousand and one-hundredthousand feet above the surface of the earth, well below even low earthorbit satellites. Various content and information may be distributed orbroadcast from the stratospheric platform 35. The stratospheric platform35 may also provide a return path from the set top box 28 to the networkoperation center 12.

The present disclosure may be used for displaying various wirelessinformation on a portable device 36 such as a laptop computer 38, apersonal digital assistant 39, a cellular telephone 40 or a portablemedia player 42. It should be noted that these devices may also receivewireless signals having various types of information associatedtherewith from the cellular towers 34A and 34B. Other types ofinformation may be broadcast from various other types of broadcastingareas such as an antenna 41 on a building 44. The building 44 may bevarious types of buildings such as a store and the wireless informationtransmitted from the antenna 41 may be advertising information.

The building or home 22 is illustrated having a fixed antenna 26. Thefixed antenna 26 is coupled to the set top box 28. The set top box 28may also be referred to as an integrated receiver decoder. The set topbox 28 receives the received signals through the antenna 26 and convertsthem into audio and video files to be played on television monitor 30.The set top box 28 may include a digital video recorder 32. The receivedsignals may be satellite, stratospheric or terrestrial-based signals.The received signals may also be received from a cable in acable-television based system.

The set top box 28 may be coupled to a communication line 58 such as atelephone line which in turn is coupled to the public service telephonenetwork 50 and which may also be coupled to the Internet 52. Thetelephone line may be used to grant conditional access and provide ameans to place call-backs from the receiving device. The communicationline 58 may also be a cable television line used to deliver content tothe set top box 28. The set top box 28 may also include a transmitter 57that is used to communicate with one or more of the portable devices 36.As will be described below, various signals including content,conditional access signals, keys and authorizations from the DVR 32 maybe transferred through the transmitter 57 to the portable device 36. Thetransmitter 57 may be an RF infrared, Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet, WiMaxor WiMax mobile transmitter. It should be noted that the transmitter 57may be a wireless or wired connection to the portable device 36.

A central location such as a business service center 100 may be coupledto a communication system 101 which may include the public servicetelephone network (PSTN) 50, cellular tower 34, stratospheric platform35 or the internet 52 preferably though a broadband system. The businessservice center 100 is typically used in a DirecTV-type system forbilling, Pay-Per-View and interactive programming. The business center100 may receive requests or calls 102 and provide billing services 104.The business service center 100 may also act as a head end 106 coupledto network operation center 12. The business service center 100 mayallow household keys to be stored on the set top box 28. A secondhousehold key may be provided to the portable device 36. When content istransferred from the set top box 28 to the portable device 36, the keysmust match to allow playback. Thus, only mobile receivers associatedwith or belonging to the customers of the particular set top box orboxes 28 are allowed playback of the particular audio and video files.The business center 100 or head end 106 may receive call-back signalsallow authorizations to view pay per view, for interactive services, forgaming and the like. The business center 100 or head end 20 may alsoprovide call in to grant authorizations and provide the system withother information signals.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a set top box 28 is illustrated in furtherdetail. Antenna 26 may be various types of antennas including astationary, omni-directional moving or rotating antenna which is used toswitch to another satellite or to track the relative movement of thesatellite should the satellites be lower earth orbit satellites than ageostationary satellite. The antenna 26 may be a single antenna used forsatellite television reception. The antenna 26 may also be an electronicantenna. The antenna 26 may two-way communicate information to the settop box 28 such as tuning information.

The antenna 26 may include a control module 27 that controls thecommunication with the set top box 28. During operation, the controlmodule 27 generates various types of signals such as informationregarding the antenna, timing information and the like as will bedescribed below.

The antenna 26 may be replaced with a cable television connection or aterrestrial antenna or a combination thereof depending on the type ofsystem.

The set top box 28 includes a display 54. The display 54 may beincorporated into the set top box 28 or by providing by separate monitoror television 30 from FIG. 1. The display 54 may include output drivers56 used for generating the desired audio and video outputs suitable forthe particular display 54.

A controller 60 may be a general processor such as a microprocessor. Thecontroller 60 may be used to coordinate and control the variousfunctions of the set top box 28. These functions may include a tuner 64,a demodulator 66, a forward error correction decoder 68 and any buffersand other functions. The tuner 64 receives the signal or data from theindividual channel. The demodulator 66 demodulates the signal or data toform a demodulated signal or data. The decoder 68 decodes thedemodulated signal to form decoded data or a decoded signal. Thecontroller 60 may be similar to that found in current DirecTV set topboxes which employ a chip-based multifunctional controller.

The controller 60 may include or be coupled to a local bus 70. The localbus 70 may be used to couple a dynamic memory 72 such as RAM whichchanges often and whose contents may be lost upon the interruption ofpower or boot up. The bus 70 may also be coupled to a non-volatilememory 74. The non-volatile memory 74 may be an in-circuit programmabletype memory. One example of a non-volatile memory 74 is an EEPROM. Onespecific type of EEPROM is flash memory. Flash memory is suitable sinceit is sectored into blocks of data segments that may be individuallyerased and rewritten.

Other memory devices 76 may also be coupled to local bus 70. The othermemory devices may include other types of dynamic memory, non-volatilememory, or may include such devices such as a digital video recorder 78.The display 54 may be changed under the control of controller 60 inresponse to the data in the dynamic memory 72 or non-volatile memory 74.A storage device such as digital video recorder 78 may be coupled withinthe set top box 28. Several embodiments below may use a storage devicealone.

The controller 60 may also be coupled to a user interface 80. Userinterface 80 may be various types of user interfaces such as a keyboard,push buttons, a touch screen, a voice activated interface, or the like.User interface 80 may be used to select a channel, select variousinformation, change the volume, change the display appearance, initiateor file transfer, select a file, or other functions. The user interface80 is illustrated as part of the set top box 28. The user interface 80may be located external to the set top box 28 such as dial buttons,voice activated system, or the like incorporated into another devicesuch as a television.

A remote control 86 may be used as one type of interface device. Theremote control 86 provides various data to the controller 60.

A conditional access module 82 (CAM) may also be incorporated into thereceiving unit. Access cards or modules such as conditional accessmodule (CAM) cards are typically found in DirecTV units. The conditionalaccess module 82 may provide conditional access to various channels andwireless signals generated by the system. Not having an access card ornot having an up-to-date access module 82 may prevent the user fromreceiving or displaying various content from the system.

An external data port 84 may be coupled to the controller 60 fortransmitting or receiving information from the portable device 36 suchas the portable media player 42. The set top box 28 is illustratedhaving a data port 84 coupled to the portable media player through theinterface 57 may in be included in the set top box. The set top box mayinclude various device controllers or drivers to form various types ofconnections not limited to a USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMax wired,infrared, Ethernet, wireless, cellular, RS232, serial port, parallelport or PSTN connection to the portable media player 42. The data port84 provides two-way communication through a two-way communication line85.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagrammatic view of a portable device36 is illustrated. As would be evident, the portable device 36 mayperform other functions such as computing in the case of a personalcomputer or calendar events in the case of a personal digital assistant.The block diagram presented in FIG. 3 applies to the function set forthin the disclosure that is in addition to any other functions such adevice may perform.

Portable device 36 includes a controller 200 that is coupled to adisplay 202 that may be part of or separate from the device. The display202 may, for example, be a screen.

Controller 200 is also coupled to a user interface 204. The userinterface 204 may be various types of user interfaces including buttons,dials, slides or a touch screen. One example shown in the next figure isa plurality of arrow key buttons for moving a cursor on the display 202.For the case of a touch screen, the user interface and the display arecombined as one. The controller 200 also includes a speaker or audiojack 206. The speaker or audio jack 206 plays the audio signals from thecontroller 200.

The controller 200 is also in communication with a memory 210. Thememory 210 may be a single memory device or a number of memory devices.The memory 210 may include, but is not limited to, a hard disk drive,flash memory, RAM, ROM, non-volatile memory, dynamic memory, or variousother types of memory. Various combinations of types of memory may beused. The memory 210 may be used to store various information includinglicense expiration 212, video files 214, video segments 216, videorights times 218, file types 220, a serial number 222, a seed 224,encryption keys 226, or the like.

The controller 200 may also be coupled to a data port 230. The data port230 may be various types of data ports including an antenna forwirelessly receiving information, an infrared port for infraredtransmission of information, or a direct electrical connection such as,but not limited to, a USB connection, an Ethernet connection, parallelport, serial port or RS232 connection. Various formats may be used suchas Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMax, wired, cellular, serial port, parallel port,or the like.

The data port 230 may be a single direction input port. However, thedata port 230 for the examples below is a two-way communication port sothe portable device 36 may communicate with the receiving device 28 ofFIG. 2. Two-way is used to increase the security of the system.

The controller 200 may also be coupled to a power supply 234. The powersupply 234 may be a battery, AC, solar, or fuel cell. Of course, variousother types of power supplies could be used.

The controller 200 may be used to perform various communicationfunctions such as transmitting information, encoding/decoding,encrypting/decrypting, playing back, monitoring license rights,communicating with the set top box, storing information to the memory210, retrieving information from the memory 210, controlling filestructures and other control functions.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the portable media player42 is illustrated. Many of the elements of FIG. 3 described above areillustrated including the display 202, the user interface 204 thatincludes arrow buttons 250 and a select button 252. A speaker 206 isalso illustrated along with a data port 230.

Display 202 includes a graphical user interface 260. The graphical userinterface 260 includes a plurality of icons 262A-262F. The icons 262A-Frepresent a top level menu 264. The first icon 262A is a video icon, thesecond icon 262B is a music icon. Icon 262C is a photo icon, icon 262Dis a brand icon such as a DirecTV icon. Icon 262E is a file icon, andicon 262F is a set-up icon. The types of files may be categorized andsaved under the corresponding icon. The files may have differentformats. A first format may be used for the DirecTV video and/or audiofiles that is different than any of the other types of formats storedunder the other icons. Video files may have several different formats ofwhich only the DirecTV-specific format is under the icon 262D.

The files under each icon may be selected using the user interface 204such as the arrow selector 250 and a select button 252. As isillustrated, the DirecTV menu is highlighted. An implementation may usebolding to indicate the selection, a change of colors of the selectedarea, underlining or other types of an indication.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the screen display 202 has a displaycorresponding to the icon selection 262D. That is, selection of the icon262D brings screen display 280 onto the display 202. The screen display280 includes a list of files 282 stored thereon. Other information mayalso be displayed including the time 286 and date 288 that the programwas recorded. A channel descriptor 290 may also be displayed thatillustrates the channel from which the show was recorded.

The display 280 may also include a video display area 292 that displaysa portion of the show or file selected. In this instance, the icon 294is selected. It is illustrated as a different color or shading than theremaining files.

A space available on the disk is displayed on disk or memory spacedisplay 296. A battery life indicator 298 provides an indicator as tothe remaining battery life of the device.

Referring now to FIG. 6, one example of a system according to thepresent disclosure is illustrated in block diagrammatic/flowchartformat.

A customer 310 contacts a call center 102 through direct telephonecontact, interactive voice recording, through an on-screen userinterface or through a website. The customer calls to register orde-register a portable device 36. The call center 102 is incommunication with a billing center 104. A serial number of the productor other unique identifier is provided to the billing center 104 throughthe call center and ultimately the customer 310. The billing center 104reviews the account information, and, if the portable device 36 is thefirst device for the account, generates a household seed. The householdseed is provided once the device is registered to the head end 106. Theportable device 36 may be restricted from moving/sharing content betweenhouseholds. Also, household seeds allow for license renewal incombination with a token without need of a back channel.

The head end 106 may be coupled to or store therein a certificaterevocation list or simply a revocation list 320. The revocation list 320may provide an indication as to whether the device is a banned orcounterfeit device. The revocation list 320 may take the form ofspecific serial numbers or unique identifiers that have been associatedwith fraud with respect to a specific device or a model, or a softwareversion. The revocation list may be provided to the head end 106, whereauthorization may be prevented or allowed. Authorization to the systemis not provided for the particular portable device 36 if it is on therevocation list. Should the device not be on the revocation list, thehead end 106 provides a household seed and an indication of theregistered device to a broadcast management and uplink system 324. Therevocation list may also be provided to each set top box 28 and adetermination may be made at the set top box based on the revocationlist.

The broadcast management and uplink system may provide secure time andlicense rules to the device through communication system 101 orsatellites 18. A conditional access packet (CAP) may be provided withthe serial number, the seed, the programming guide with revocationsecure time and licensing rules. These features may be provided in oneCAP or multiple CAPs. These are provided to the set top boxes 28A and28B. In this example, more than one set top box is illustrated sinceauthorization may be provided for each set top box or receiving device.Each set top box in this example includes an associated digital videorecorder 32A and 32B. The set top box adds the serial number to a listin memory therein, saves the household seed, the revocation lists, asecure time and a local license for the portable media player. Ofcourse, not all of the items listed may be used in any oneconfiguration. The set top boxes, thus, provide content along withlicensing and expiration data encrypted with a content key and othersubscriber data to the portable device 36.

Communication between the uplink system and the set top boxes may beperformed securely using encryption or other security features.Likewise, communication between the set top boxes and the portabledevices may be done in a secure manner. One type of encryption orsecurity may be performed with a public key. The public key is providedby the portable device 36 and can be the same public key used in digitalrights management (DRM). Link protection to uniquely identify the devicecan use the public key to encrypt a symmetric key for use in encryptingthe communication.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a screen display 400 associated with a displaydevice 30 generated by a set top box of FIG. 1 is illustrated. Thescreen display 400 provides a means for selecting various files to betransferred to the portable device 36. As illustrated, a list of files402 have an “x” before the name of each file a selection box 404. A userinterface 80 such as that shown in FIG. 2, may be used for selecting andde-selecting various content. In addition to a name 406, a day 408, date410 and time 412 associated with the file are set forth. The day, dateand time may correspond to the start time of the original program. Byselecting the various files, and coupling the portable device 36 to theset top box or other receiving device, the files may be transferredthereto. The menu may only be available when a portable device 36 isconnected to the receiving device or storage device.

Referring now to FIG. 8, one method for operating the system during theregistration process is illustrated. In box 500, the serial number ofthe portable device 36 or other unique identifier is communicated to thehead end. As mentioned above, the serial number or unique identifier maybe communicated in various manners including by direct customer input toa call center. This example will use a serial number as the uniqueidentifier. Of course, other types of unique identifiers may be used. Instep 502, if the serial identifier is not communicated to the head end,the device is not registered in 502. In step 504, if the serial numberis not unique, step 502 does not provide a registration for the device.In step 506, if the serial number is on a revocation list, the device isalso not registered with the system in step 502. As mentioned above,this step may be performed at the head end or the set top box 28 shownin FIG. 1.

After step 506, step 508 determines if a household limit has beenreached. It may be desirable to provide a limit to the number of devicesassociated with a particular system. Therefore, if a household limit hasbeen reached, step 502 does not register the device.

After step 508, if the household limit has not been reached, step 510transmits a conditional access packet (CAP) with a serial number to theset top box. This may be performed securely. In step 512, the serialnumber is stored in the set top box with security. The security may takethe form of a separate memory, encryption or the like. In step 514, therevocation list may be provided to the set top box. In step 516, a seedis generated at the head end and broadcast to all the set top boxes ofthe household of step 518. The seed is used to generate a content key instep 520. The content key may be distributed in a license in encryptedform. The content key may be a single symmetric key. Each payload packetmay be encrypted with a different symmetric key. The data packetencryption key may be stored in encrypted form. The household seed andits derivatives are the same for all set top boxes in a household. Onceall the security is in place, step 522 allows files to be stored on theportable device 36. In step 524, the stored files are decrypted usingthe content key.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, a method of operating the portablemedia player is illustrated. In step 600, the device is coupled to thereceiving device through a USB port or the like. In step 602, a serialnumber is communicated to the receiving device or storage device such asa set top box or digital video recorder. If the device is notregistered, in step 604, an on-screen display is provided in step 606and the system ends in step 608. The on-screen display may be generatedboth on the screen of the device and on the screen of the display 30associated with the receiving device. One or both displays may beactivated. After step 604, if the device is registered, step 610 checksto determine whether the device is on a revocation list. If the deviceis on a revocation list in step 610, the system process ends in step608.

In step 610, if the device is not on the revocation list, step 612updates existing content licenses. Existing content licenses may beextended for various types of content. For example, a particular brandof file that is downloaded from a particular channel may have a limitedtime such as five days. Once the device is recoupled to the receivingdevice, the time may again be extended for another five days. If thecurrent subscriber is no longer a subscriber to the particular channel,then the license is not extended.

Specific licenses may be updated based on existing tokens (embeddedwithin the content) on the portable media player or as an alternativeall licenses on the device may be updated without requesting information(tokens) from the device.

After step 612, step 614 generates an on-screen indicator of theconnection. In step 616, content is selected through the receivingdevice such as a set top box menu. In step 618, DirecTV encryption maybe removed. A content key is generated in step 620. Metatags includingtitles, ratings, times and other information may be created in step 622.In step 624, the packets or segments of data may be encapsulated andencrypted. In step 626, the packets are transferred to the device. Instep 628, a license for generating content is generated. In step 630,the license is transferred to the device.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a method of transferring files from a set topbox or other receiving device to a portable device 36 is described. Instep 700, video files and audio files are stored within the set top box.In step 702, the portable device 36 is coupled to the set top box usingone of the above methods. In step 704, DirecTV or other specific type orbranded content or other formatted content is stored on the portabledevice 36. In step 706, the type of file is selected from a menu. Instep 708, the device displays the DirecTV or other special formattedfiles upon selection of a DirecTV icon or similar descriptor. In step710, files with non-DirecTV formats are prevented from being displayedwith the DirecTV menu. In step 712, display of DirecTV files withnon-DirecTV menus, is also prevented. This allows the specific filessuch as the DirecTV files to be located in one specific area to enhancethe user experience. For example, regular file-sharing screen displaysmay be displayed in the directories other than DirecTV's. In a DirecTVdirectory, the files may be displayed in a distinct menu-type formattypically associated with the brand.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a method of playing back a file is set forth.In step 730, a portable device 36 is coupled to a storage device. Instep 732, a security check is performed. In step 734, a licenseexpiration list is updated. In step 736, the file is selected to play inthe portable device 36. In step 738, if the license has not expired forthe file, the clip or file is played in step 740. In step 742, if thelicense has expired for the file, the user is notified of theexpiration.

It should be noted that licenses may change if a subscription to aparticular premium channel has expired or a time limit from the file hasbeen reached. Other conditions may also contribute to the file expiring.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a representation of a file segment 800 isillustrated. A particular file may be composed of many segments. Thesegments may correspond to various portions of a broadcast show. Forexample, each commercial, the beginning, the ending may all be separatesegments. A file segment or simple segment is a subportion of a completefile. File segment 800 has a data portion 802 and a header portion 804.The header portion 804 may include various types of identifyinginformation including an expiration date of the data 806, a segment type808 and other types of data or metadata 810. A footer may also includethe identifying information. The footer may also be a file typeextension used in storing the segment in the memory of the portabledevice 36. Other types of data or metadata may include the channel fromwhich the file originated, the date, the time, the rating, payload size(of the packet of information), bit rate, the time per frame, an MPEGprofile. Both the audio and video may include various types of metadata.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the various video segments may be stored in atable, directory or linked list 812. Primary video segments may bestored in column 814 and secondary video segments may be stored incolumn 816. The primary video segment column may include an expirationdate 818 as well as various segments illustrated by XX1, XX2, and XX3.The secondary video segments column 812 may also include an expirationdate 820 and various video segments including YY1, YY2, and YY3. A videoor a file may be comprised of various primary video segments andsecondary video segments. The secondary video segment may include manythings including a program ending, a news portion, a commercial, orother information. The secondary video segments may be updated as willbe further described below.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a method for updating various segments isillustrated. In step 880, a file is stored on the portable device 36 invarious segments. Various methods or combinations of methods may be usedfor updating the segments. In step 882, if the segment has not beenviewed, the segment is again checked. If the segment has been viewed,the video segment is updated in step 884. Thus, only after a segment hasbeen viewed may the segment be updated. However, other information maybe time-sensitive and, thus, may also be changed. Thus, after step 880or 882, the dates associated with the segments are reviewed in step 886.If the segment date is beyond the expiration date in step 888, step 884is again performed which updates the segment. A dotted line between theoutput of block 882 and 886 illustrates that both a segment viewing anda date may be considered.

Referring back to step 880, if the replacement segment is available instep 890, the segment is updated in step 884. That is, the segments maybe updated any time a segment is available. The segment is availablewhen the portable device 36 is coupled to the receiving device or theset top box. Of course, step 890 may also be used in connection withsteps 888 and 882. That is, both viewing and an expiration may be arequirement for updating the segment.

Referring now to FIG. 15, in step 900 updates are received at the settop box digital video recorder. In step 902, an optional step ofcoupling the portable device 36 to the DVR is set forth. In step 904,the various segments are updated according to the method illustrated inFIG. 14.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a method for providing targeted advertising isset forth. In step 958, the home location stores tokens. In step 960,content is stored on the portable device 36 at a home location. In step962, the portable device 36 is coupled to a second device such as asecond set top box for playback therethrough. In step 964, a token ortype of identifier is stored on the portable device 36 from the seconddevice. The token may include an identification of the second set topbox. The token may be a digital file. Other information in the form ofother tokens may include the time or other information about theinteraction between the portable device 36 and the second set top box.In step 966, the portable device 36 is coupled to the home location andthe token is transferred to the home location set top box in step 968.In step 970, the token and/or the information therewith is transferredto a central location. In step 972, the advertising is directed to auser by way of mail in response to the token in step 974 or advertisingfor the portable device 36 in step 976. Selective adds may also beplayed back through the home set top box.

This method is suitable for providing directed advertising. For example,if a friend's device is the second device, information may be providedabout features that the second device or a friend's device includes. Asmentioned above, targeted mailers may be provided or specific adds oradd segments may be provided.

While particular embodiments of the disclosure have been shown anddescribed, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that thedisclosure be limited only in terms of the appended claims.

1. A method comprising: storing a unique identifier of a portable devicein a memory associated with a storage device controller to form a storedidentifier; coupling the portable device to the storage devicecontroller; communicating an identifier from the portable device to thestorage device controller; comparing the identifier from the portabledevice with the stored identifier in the memory; and enabling a transferof a file in response to the identifier.
 2. A method as in claim 1disabling the transfer of the file in response to a non-equal result inthe step of comparing.
 3. A method as in claim 1 wherein prior tostoring a serial number, transmitting the serial number to the storagedevice controller through a satellite.
 4. A method as in claim 3 whereinprior to transmitting, associating the serial number to a storage devicecontroller.
 5. A method as in claim 3 wherein prior to transmitting,associating the serial number to a plurality of storage devicecontrollers.
 6. A method as in claim 3 wherein prior to transmittingassociating the serial number to a plurality of storage devicecontrollers associated with a single account.
 7. A method as in claim 1wherein the storage device comprises a digital video recorder.
 8. Amethod as in claim 1 wherein the portable device comprises a portablemedia player.
 9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the portable devicecomprises a personal computer.
 10. A method comprising: registering aportable device with a central location; generating a conditional accesssignal corresponding to the portable device in response to registering;communicating the conditional access signal to a storage devicecontroller; coupling the portable device to the storage devicecontroller; and communicating files to the portable device in responseto the conditional access signal.
 11. A method as in claim 10 whereincommunicating the conditional access signal comprises communicating theconditional access signal through a satellite.
 12. A method as in claim10 wherein communicating the conditional access signal comprisescommunicating the conditional access signal through a terrestrial-basedsystem.
 13. A method as in claim 12 wherein the terrestrial-based systemcomprises a public service telephone network.
 14. A method as in claim10 wherein the conditional access signal comprises a seed signal.
 15. Amethod as in claim 10 wherein the conditional access signal comprises aseed signal and a serial number signal.
 16. A method as in claim 10wherein the conditional access signal comprises a serial number signal.17. A method as in claim 10 wherein the conditional access signalcomprises a revocation list.
 18. A method as in claim 10 wherein theconditional access signal comprises a seed signal, a serial numbersignal corresponding to a serial number and a revocation list, andwherein communicating files to the portable device is performed inresponse to the serial number not on the revocation list.
 19. A methodas in claim 10 wherein the storage device comprises a digital videorecorder.
 20. A method as in claim 10 wherein the portable devicecomprises a portable media player.
 21. A method as in claim 10 whereinthe portable device comprises a personal computer.
 22. A systemcomprising: a central location registering a portable device with acentral location, generating a conditional access signal correspondingto the portable device in response to registering and transmitting theconditional access signal to a storage device controller; a set top boxor storage device controller receiving the conditional access signal andenabling a transfer of a file; and a portable device receiving the filewhen coupled to the set top box in response to the conditional accesssignal.
 23. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the set top boxcomprises a satellite television set top box and further comprising astorage device is associated with the satellite television set top box,said storage device controller in communication with the storage device.24. A system as recited in claim 22 further comprising an interfacecoupling the set top box or storage device controller to the portabledevice.
 25. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the interfacecomprises a wired interface.
 26. A system as recited in claim 25 whereinthe wired interface comprises a USB interface.
 27. A system as recitedin claim 25 wherein the wired interface comprises an Ethernet interface.28. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the interface comprises awireless interface.
 29. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein thewireless interface comprises a local area network interface.